BUYERS OF KHAKI

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2413, 19 March 1915, Page 5

BUYERS OF KHAKI

AN AUSTRALIAN DEMAND. ' In reference to the news telegraphed by the Press Association from Auck- . land that a representative of the Federal Government had arrived in Auckland to place orders for uniforms and cloth suitable for manufacture into uniforms, it appears that not only is there a representative of the Australian Government, but there are at least two representatives here of private manufacturing firms, who are presumably Government contractors trying to procure some of their material here. What their orders are likely to ; bo is not yet known. The Defence Minister was asked whether the operations of these private in- , (lividufls were likely to embarrass the New Zealand Defence authorities. Mr. Men replied that ho could not speak - with any assurance until he. knew 'what was going on, ami wliat the orders to, )e filled were likely to be. Up till tho present the woollen mills and clothiers had supplied the needs of tlio Government very satisfactorily. It should be explained that the Government have ample powers under tho War Regulations Act to prevent any ' person whosoever from taking awav from New Zealand .material that may be required for our-own " forces. At nreseut, as Mr. Allen stated, it is not known what the buyers from Australia want, and whether our mills and factories can supply tho extra orders as as those tor. our own arnui v